Review of “Frannie in Pieces,” by Delia Ephron
“Frannie in Pieces,” by Delia Ephron is the story of a fifteen year old girl who is suffering from the loss of her father.
When fourteen year old Frannie finds her father’s dead body the shocking discovery changes her view of the world. Suddenly she fears death and feels that the world around her is full of danger. The first paragraph of the story introduces Frannie and one of her phobias:
“Do you know what it says on a tube of toothpaste? In small print? You have to read the small print because they never tell you anything scary in large print. Large print is what they want you to see. Here’s what the large print says: FOR BEST RESULTS, SQUEEZE TUBE FROM THE BOTTOM AND FLATTEN AS YOU GO UP. But the important stuff is small. Tiny. If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
You can die from toothpaste.”
In the face of her fears and scattered feelings there is one thing for Frannie to hold on to: The thousand piece puzzle that her father left behind. As Frannie slowly puts the puzzle’s pieces together it not only helps her to collect her own broken pieces, but also opens up the way to a strange foreign landscape, inside the puzzle, where she can meet her father again.
Frannie’s voice in “Frannie in Pieces” is wonderfully realistic, helping the reader to understand her feelings and ideas. The surreal fantasy portions of the story, taking place inside the puzzle, form an excellent contrast with the solid realism of Delia Ephron’s real world descriptions.
“Frannie in Pieces” is excellently written. The plot is well thought out, the characters interesting, and the voice unique. I would highly recommend “Frannie in Pieces” to any reader.
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